The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) on Thursday said beekeepers associated with its Honey Mission exported honey worth approximately Rs 31 crore during the 2025-26 financial year.

The commission made the announcement during the virtual observance of World Bee Day 2026 organised by KVIC under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

According to KVIC, honey produced under the initiative was exported to several countries including the United States, Canada, UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Singapore, Australia, Qatar and the Republic of Korea.

Addressing participants virtually from New Delhi, KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar said the Honey Mission has emerged as an important source of self-employment and rural livelihood generation.

“Today, beekeeping has become a strong medium for strengthening agriculture, the environment and the rural economy,” he said.

KVIC stated that under the Honey Mission launched in 2017, a total of 2,46,099 bee-boxes and bee colonies have been distributed across the country between 2017-18 and 2025-26.

The commission said the initiative contributed to an increase of 24,269 metric tonnes in honey production, while estimated production during 2025-26 stood at 5,512 metric tonnes.

The program was organised virtually from KVIC headquarters in Mumbai, its state and divisional offices across the country, and the Central Bee Research and Training Institute in Pune.

Held under the theme “Bee Together for People and the Planet,” the event highlighted the role of honeybees in environmental conservation, biodiversity and agricultural productivity.

 

MT